BlaBlaCar

[Shston Girlfd]

Yeah or Nay. They appear to be an Uber competitor, is this true?

 

[trecile]

Yeah or Nay. They appear to be an Uber competitor, is this true?

I haven't used them, but others have and it was a good service for them. I wouldn't call them an Uber competitor. Blablacar is for long distances, and you can't get one on demand.

 

[JCLima]

BlaBlaCar is just a platform where regular people connect to carpool.

It is a "Yeah" if you choose somebody with good reviews (reducing the risk of something going wrong - you are getting in a stranger's car!) and if you have a backup plan in case the other person cancels.

 

[Former member 49149]

I signed up to Blablacar. I have used it twice. From Bilbao to Pamplona. I found a driver who offered a drive at a time that suited me, from a location that suited me, to a location that suited me. Each driver offers the number of spaces she or he decides on. I paid via paypal. There is no cash exchange. The driver received 80%, if I remember correctly. Blablacar retains the service charge. There is plenty of information on the website.

 

[Havnen]

I signed up to Blablacar. I have used it twice. From Bilbao to Pamplona. I found a driver who offered a drive at a time that suited me, from a location that suited me, to a location that suited me. Each driver offers the number of spaces she or he decides on. I paid via paypal. There is no cash exchange. The driver received 80%, if I remember correctly. Blablacar retains the service charge. There is plenty of information on the website.

I used Bla Bla Car in Switzerland last summer from Annecy to Laussanne. Saved time and money. Super convenient. Two of us shared with another passenger. Didn’t realize Bla Bla was in Spain till today! We joke, “Where’s Uber!” if we are too tired or hurting but “Bla Bla!” is much more fun to say! Who knows, may even be a viable option!

 

[Purky]

Used it only once, and will certainly do it again if need be. Had to travel from Oviedo to SdC, about 300 km. The driver didn't really speak English, and my Spanish is even worse. I noticed him subtly checking out my facial expression when he went faster than the speed limit. When he felt reassured I didn't mind at all, he put the pedal to the metal and drove us to our destination in two and a half hours flat. Cheaper than bus or train, and a whole lot quicker! BlaBla also has a Ladies Only feature, if you're a little worried about getting in a stranger's car.

 

[Former member 49149]

also, you can ask questions before committing, and you can also read the profile and reviews of the driver. Reviews of you as a passenger are posted as well, both from other passengers and the drivers, so it is fairly well transparent.

 

[backpack45scb]

We've used it once in France, and once in Spain, both times a good experience. Faster than other modes and a pleasant way to travel. You do need to start arranging for a ride several days in advance, and before that just to see how many drivers there are doing your route, and how close they come to where you are. For example, we were in Vilalba, Spain and the closest rides were thru Lugo, so we took bus to Lugo.

If you have tight connections, when you book a ride, pick one that shows lightning bolts. That means your ride is confirmed immediately. Once we booked a ride without lightning bolts, which meant the driver had 12 hours to respond. We were on a tight schedule, and had to know we had a ride immediately. We didn't hear back in 10 hours, so cancelled that booking and rebooked with a confirmed ride.

 

[KinkyOne]

We've used it once in France, and once in Spain, both times a good experience. Faster than other modes and a pleasant way to travel. You do need to start arranging for a ride several days in advance, and before that just to see how many drivers there are doing your route, and how close they come to where you are. For example, we were in Vilalba, Spain and the closest rides were thru Lugo, so we took bus to Lugo.

If you have tight connections, when you book a ride, pick one that shows lightning bolts. That means your ride is confirmed immediately. Once we booked a ride without lightning bolts, which meant the driver had 12 hours to respond. We were on a tight schedule, and had to know we had a ride immediately. We didn't hear back in 10 hours, so cancelled that booking and rebooked with a confirmed ride.

I don't think you got THE BlaBlaCar system understood. It's a rideshare, not a Uber!

But of course it's faster, cheaper, nicer and more comfortable than the bus or plane.

 

[David Tallan]

I used BlaBla Car after my 2016 Camino to get from SdC to Madrid. It struck me as a ride share in reality, rather than the taxi system pretending to be a ride share that Uber is. In other words, the drivers are making the trip for their own purposes and bringing you along to help defray costs, rather than driving to earn money and making the trip because you are paying them to. Faster, cheaper and more comfortable than a plane, though, as KinkyOne says, I'm not sure.

 

[KinkyOne]

I used BlaBla Car after my 2016 Camino to get from SdC to Madrid. It struck me as a ride share in reality, rather than the taxi system pretending to be a ride share that Uber is. In other words, the drivers are making the trip for their own purposes and bringing you along to help defray costs, rather than driving to earn money and making the trip because you are paying them to. Faster, cheaper and more comfortable than a plane, though, as KinkyOne says, I'm not sure.

Well, with BlaBlaCar you can always stop for a beer, Try that with bus, train or a plane and not brake your budget

 

[SYates]

I use it occasionally, it is more a car share than an Uber clone, and so far have been very happy with it! Buen Camino, SY

 

[Aurigny]

BlaBla also has a Ladies Only feature, if you're a little worried about getting in a stranger's car.

I'm a man, and I'm worried about getting in a stranger's car. It's not that bad things regularly happen with BBC; I know it's very popular in France, and elsewhere. It's that there's no plan B if things should turn ugly.

When I was younger, I took risks accepting lifts from people I didn't know that in retrospect make me blanch. At this stage of my life, I just won't do it. The saving of a few euros isn't worth it to me.

 

[backpack45scb]

I'm a man, and I'm worried about getting in a stranger's car. It's not that bad things regularly happen with BBC; I know it's very popular in France, and elsewhere. It's that there's no plan B if things should turn ugly.

When I was younger, I took risks accepting lifts from people I didn't know that in retrospect make me blanch. At this stage of my life, I just won't do it. The saving of a few euros isn't worth it to me.

The drivers and the passengers are reviewed and rated, so I don't see much of a security issue if you get someone who does it regularly and has good reviews.

 

[Former member 49149]

I'm a man, and I'm worried about getting in a stranger's car. It's not that bad things regularly happen with BBC; I know it's very popular in France, and elsewhere. It's that there's no plan B if things should turn ugly.

When I was younger, I took risks accepting lifts from people I didn't know that in retrospect make me blanch. At this stage of my life, I just won't do it. The saving of a few euros isn't worth it to me.

Hi Aurigny. I used Blablacar because the bus timetable did not suit my arrival time in Bilbao. The price is incidental. Maybe sometime if you travel with someone else you could try it out...

 

[Mr_Ross_Duncan]

Great service in my opinion. Used it to beat the French train strike on a trip from Le Puy to Lyon after finishing the Geneva Camino this year.
All the registered drivers come with insurance courtesy of BBC as well in case of any mishaps.

 

[P Rat]

Our daughter used it a fair bit while backpacking through Europe 2 years ago. She always forwarded us the info of the car she was getting a ride with. She was always was very happy with the way she was treated and how convenient it is. And yes, it is more a 'share my ride' than an Uber or taxi. We will be using it when in Europe next year...